The 4 stages of alcoholism

[Nelz]

Prairie Fairy;1212550 wrote: Bump - bunch of newbies in the nest... :-)

First time I saw it.....thanks for the bump AF, and posting Mario. Im thinking I was stage 3.5 for a lonnnnnng time.

Just some more inspiration to not pick the bottle back up

[winowithhope]

in the 3rd and 4th stage

and very scared

[Sigh]

I hate you mario. Too too much of this rings true and I feel myself slipping. I can't beat this shit... I have just masked it for the past 20 years (from 15 to 35). Nobody questioned it (or ignored it) but now it's come to the forefront.

Finding a quality treatment program can be a difficult process. That's why it is important to log on & post here daily and of course other forums or organisations like this,
copied from web.

Where do I find quality treatment? Posting here and just leaving things to my own devices doesn't seem to work. I've been here for years now and more pointedly acknowledging the problem at times but also ignoring it for most of the time

[retteacher]

Mario: Many thanks. I was well into stage 3 when I hit bottom during a drinking binge. Before that I had relapsed many times while here as a member of MWO. I knew I needed to do something different & chose AA. It's not for everyone but is working for me.

Regarding relapse: I haven't relapsed in the almost 3 years I've been in AA, but I've head many stories of people who have. It's just as Cindi described. Shortly after picking up a drink, they were back to the drinking levels of the past.

I know I cannot drink safely, so I choose not to drink at all.

Thank you, Mary

[Lost Soul]

When we think of an alcoholic - we immediately visualise stage 4. The wino on the street.

He had to start somewhere. We could all be him eventually if we choose to do nothing,

[Lost Soul]

This is a great post and should have a sticky xx

[cuckoosnest83]

Thank you for this eye-opening post Mario. I agree with Lost Soul that this should have a sticky but I don't know how to do that. I remember a thread started by "Irish Lass (or Lady)" about alcohol being like entering a swimming pool. I believe that had a sticky and always showed up on the boards.

[Raven.joy]

I read this post once a couple of years ago and sawhat had happened to myself. Great to see it still up here, just as current and helping people still.

[on my way]

Although I'm not on here much any more, this is something I continually come back to and reread. Sure helps reinforce that facts and makes me revisit a place I never want to be again.

thanks again Mario

[Arial]

Glad I came across this Mario - very eye-opening and scary to assess myself against these bench marks - just confirms I've been kidding myself for years.
Many thanks for the wakeup call!